FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Does hypnobirthing work?
Hypnobirthing is a mindset, not an outcome, and from my own personal experience, I know the huge impact hypnobirthing can have if the time is given to preparation.
I have also received very positive feedback from my clients, from those who had planned home or hospital births, to those who had planned or unplanned caesarean births and those who birthed unexpectedly at home. Hypnobirthing works differently for everyone. My clients say they were able to draw on the tools and techniques they learnt, enabling them to have a positive experience no matter what birth they had. Read birth stories from some of my clients here.
When is the best time to do a hypnobirthing antenatal course?
You can begin the course any time. Some choose to book as early as possible to begin receiving all of the benefits from their preparation. The majority of people start their first session following the 20-week scan as it from this point that most feel they can fully focus on their baby’s birth. The tools and techniques you learn on my course are effective whenever you begin. If you are further along in your pregnancy but can still complete all of the sessions before you give birth, you will benefit immensely. One of my clients began her course at 37 weeks and found her labour and birth experience was hugely impacted by all she had learnt in the sessions.
Can I attend the course alone or should my birth partner come with me?
Your chosen birth partner is very welcome and I would actively encourage them to attend. From my own personal experience, a birth partner can feel very helpless without the knowledge and skills hypnobirthing develops. Your birth partner has a huge part to play in the birth of your baby, from protecting your space, communicating with caregivers, keeping you fed and hydrated and helping you to stay calm and relaxed. In fact, I would even go as far to say that your birth partner has more to remember than you do on the day, so it is important that they feel confident and comfortable with their role.
If, however, you do not have a birth partner or they are unable to attend, the knowledge and techniques you will learn will be invaluable to you whether or not you have a companion present.
If I am opting for a Caesarean birth, will hypnobirthing still be of benefit to me?
Yes! My hypnobirthing antenatal course gives you all the tools you need to prepare for your baby’s birth, wherever and however you choose to welcome them into the world. Childbirth is hugely empowering and there is no ‘one size fits all’. The information you receive will help you to make informed decisions that are right for you and your baby and you will learn a range of tools and techniques to use however you choose to give birth.
Will hypnobirthing give me a pain free labour and birth?
While I cannot guarantee that your birth will be pain free, hypnobirthing mothers often report being much more comfortable during childbirth and many do not require pain relief. The tools and techniques you learn on my course can help make pain more manageable if you practise and put the hard work in during pregnancy. Some mothers opt to have no pain relief and some draw on the tools and techniques for as far along as they can and then choose to have pain relief. You must decide what feels right for you on the day. There is no right or wrong.
Sophie
First-time mum
Demelza was brilliant. She was supportive and knowledgeable and made us both feel at ease. The course covered the biology of birth, as well as techniques for relaxation and different types of pain relief and care. We both felt so prepared and confident going into the birth.
